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1 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Lina Gomaa
Portland State University
2 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
© 2015 Portland State University
ISBN: 978-1-329-99669-4
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
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NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes
Published by Portland State University Library Portland, OR 97207-1151
3 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
About the Book: This book is for students who have studied Modern Standard
Arabic (MSA) for one year or more and would like to learn colloquial Arabic
basics using their knowledge of MSA. It aims at transitioning learners from Novice
Mid level to Intermediate Low through presenting situations useful for living in an
Arab country. The book has several features including hyperlinks, practice
dialogues with open answers, cultural tips, and more.
About the Author: Lina Gomaa received an MA in Arabic/English Translation
and Interpreting from University of Salford, UK. At Beloit College, USA, she
obtained her BA in Creative Writing, with a minor in Journalism. Also at Beloit
College, she obtained a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. In
Egypt, Miss Gomaa obtained a BA in Arabic/English Translation and English
Literature from the Faculty of Languages, Alsun, Ain Shams University. At the
American University in Cairo, she received the Certificate of Teaching Arabic for
non-native speakers. Miss Gomaa has taught Arabic and English to non-native-
speakers at several universities in Egypt and the USA. She is a fully certified oral
proficiency interviewer by ACTFL. Miss Gomaa’s research interests are second
language acquisition and translation including holy texts, focusing on the Holy
Quran translations into English.
4 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the support of the Arabic
Section and World Languages and Literatures department at PSU. The Arabic
Section fully encouraged me throughout the process of writing this book.
Professor Yasmeen Hanoosh and Professor Jennifer Perlmutter provided full
support especially when the book was just a new idea to be introduced to the Open
Textbook project.
My dear colleague Cliff Breedlove’s insight, suggestions, discussions,
editing and support made this book possible. He has been my fresh second pair of
eyes; I am grateful to you. I thank Professor Dirgham Sbait for encouraging me to
teach Colloquial Arabic and sharing his extensive experience with me.
The library team has been an asset to make this project a reality. Mrs. Karen
Bjork’s knowledge in copyright, time management, and unlimited resources are
priceless. She has been wonderful to work with, easing any hurdles in the way.
Mrs. Stephanie Doig’s help and insight took the financial burden off my shoulders
and allowed me to focus on writing. Thank you.
My dear students, John Flachetta and Mariah Denman, the delightful future
of PSU Arabic studies, have been committed to learning Arabic and recording with
me the dialogues for this book. Their clear and strong speaking skills are models
for PSU Arabic students to follow.
I will not forget to thank all my students, whose questions, comments, and
suggestions have shaped my teaching and perception of my own language, just like
water is always shaping the rocks.
5 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Thank you, Mum and Dad for your prayers, love, and belief in the
importance of education and language learning.
Last but not least, I thank God: You are my light.
6 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Table of contents
Introduction ………………………………………………………………..……….8 Abbreviations and Acronyms .................................................................................. 12
Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................ 13
A: Transitioning to CA:Final voweling and greeting terms in MSA and CA ......... 13
B: Greetings and ending conversations………………………………………...…18
1. Formal greetings conversation: at work ......................................................... 18
2. Informal greetings conversation: ................................................................... 20
3. Practice: Complete the dialogue………………………………………...….22
C: Cultural insight: Ending a conversation in a culturally acceptable manner ....... 23
Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................ 24
A: Transitioning to CA: WH Question words in MSA and CA .............................. 25
Examples of using WH words in short dialogues ............................................... 26
B: Requests…………………………………………………………………...…...28
1. Taxi ……………………………………………………………………….28
2. Requesting train tickets ................................................................................... 32
3. At the restaurant……………………………………………………………..37
4. Practice: Complete the dialogue ..................................................................... 42
C: Cultural insights: Giving directions .................................................................... 43
7 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................ 44
A: Transitioning to CA: Verb tenses…………………...…………...……….….44
B: Dialogues………………………………………………………………….…46
1. At the sports club (present tense)…………………………………………….46
2. Missing a lecture at the university (future tense)……………………...……..51
3.What did you do yesterday? (past tense)…………………………………......65
4. Practice: Complete the dialogue………………………………………......…65
C: Cultural insights: Phone conversations and communicating among different age
groups in the Arab world………………………………………………………….66
Chapter 4………………………..………………………………………………..67
A: Transitioning to CA: Negation in MSA vs CA……………………………….67
Mini-Dialogues: Examples of using negations and invitations…………….....70
B: Accepting and rejecting invitations……………………………………………73
1. Accepting an invitation to lunch…………………………………………..…73
2. Politely rejecting an invitation to an outing…………………...……………...75
3. Practice: Complete the dialogue…………………………………………...…76
C: Cultural insights: Tips on dealing with culturally sensitive situations…….…..77
Glossary……………………………………………………………………...…...78
8 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Image source: http://mrg.bz/O0aZ62
Introduction
The teaching methodology for Colloquial Arabic continues to engender
controversy in the field of Arabic pedagogy. One approach is firstly teaching
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), then teaching colloquial Arabic (CA); another is
introducing both MSA and CA at the same time. A third approach is starting with
CA then introducing MSA, which is less common in USA and Middle East
educational institutions.
At Portland State University (PSU), the Arabic program is designed to teach
MSA for at least one year, after which the students can learn CA. Because of how
the Arabic program at PSU is designed (similar to many programs in the USA), the
importance of this book arises. This transition can be challenging for some
students.
Many current texts do not address the transition from MSA to CA. Some
authors assume that both varieties are taught at the same time, or that colloquial is
9 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
taught first. These approaches are not the best fit for the PSU program design. This
book provides information needed to transition from MSA to CA and is useful for
PSU students and any student who is following the same pattern in learning
Arabic.
The book targets students in NM (Novice Mid) who have studied Arabic for
a year or more and aims to help them advance to IL (Intermediate Low) according
to the Oral Proficiency Interview standards by ACTFL, the American Council on
The Teaching of Foreign Languages. This book documents answers to questions
from students in CA classes. It is also a reference for students to “get a feel” for
MSA and CA similarities and differences.
Content is displayed at the beginning of each chapter. Section A discusses a
feature in MSA and compares it with CA. Section B has dialogues with different
topics related to section A; each dialogue is preceded by a table that has three
columns: the word in Arabic, the word in English, and the equivalent
word/expression in MSA. In the second column “the meaning in English,” I
included both the literal meaning (LM) and the intended meaning (IM). Including
the LM, as I noticed in class, makes the words/expressions more memorable to the
students and more comprehensible even though it might not sound idiomatic or
make full sense in English.
The last section of the chapter (C) is cultural insight related to the main
topic, making the students more culturally familiar with acceptable behaviors and
offering ideas to consider while living in an Arab country. At the end is a glossary
organized in English for easier search.
This book is not meant to be a comprehensive treatment of all the issues
arising when learning CA after learning MSA. Its goal is to transition students
smoothly from MSA to CA, giving them confidence to explore both varieties while
10 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
reaching the NH (Novice High) or IL level, navigate predictable social situations in
CA, and utilize their previous knowledge in MSA to learn CA. The content and
structure are based on my teaching experience and as an ACTFL OPI interviewer
to assist students in their quest to speak CA with native speakers with relative ease.
In this book, you will notice several features, one of which is adding a
practice dialogue at the end of each chapter to encourage speaking. From my
interactions with beginning students, I noticed that they like to practice speaking
with Arabic native speakers but are shy or not confident enough or do not know
how to reach them. The practice dialogue section is a venue for gaining
confidence, where the speaker in the recording pauses during the dialogue, leaving
lines for the student to complete orally and in writing. This allows the student to
have a real conversation during the recorded dialogue.
In addition, you will find voweling on some of the words when first
introduced to help in correctly reading them. From the second time onwards, the
voweling disappears. Thus, students receive help the first time when they read the
full voweling of the word, then encouragement to remember the correct
pronunciation by more practice, while having a reference.
Voweling is somewhat rare in CA books because this is how Arabic native
speakers read. However, I noticed that students have struggled with reading and
practicing many words even after listening to them in the audio recording. This is
partially because many MSA books are heavily voweled. For some students
studying MSA, switching to CA where the books have no vowels is unsettling.
Thus, I have attempted to reach a middle ground between both approaches in this
book where voweling is used only when a new word is introduced then disappears
after its introduction.
Transliteration is not employed because the target students of this book
have had one year of Arabic or more and can read Arabic script.
11 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
One final feature is having hyperlinks to resources, including more
information about cultural items and songs. For songs in particular, I am not
expecting the students to fully understand what is being said, but the exposure to
the language can gradually lead to fluency, increase interest in the Arabic culture,
and provide chances to listen to different speakers’ intonation and terminology.
Since I grew up in Cairo, this book introduces the Cairene Egyptian dialect;
however, it also explains commonly used expressions in the Levant (Jordan, Syria,
Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel). The goal is to introduce students to more varieties,
allowing them to choose which dialect to specialize in and still be able to
communicate with Arabic speakers. Although this book does not introduce Gulf
dialects, many of the expressions and terms are frequently used in most of the Arab
world, and many are derived from MSA.
I sincerely hope that this book will benefit students of Arabic at PSU and
elsewhere, reduce their textbook expenses, and help them improve their CA
speaking. I also hope that the dialogues (recorded by PSU students of Arabic) will
be enjoyable for learners and provide successful examples for others to follow.
This book will be used in classes and the wider online audience. I welcome
suggestions and comments to improve the content and format in future editions.
Learning outcomes: On completion of this book, the students will be able to:
Differentiate between MSA and CA (particularly Egyptian) Navigate predictable social situations in CA including:
1. Greetings in formal and informal settings 2. Asking questions and making requests 3. Expressing themselves in the present, future and past in CA 4. Using negation in the present 5. Accepting and rejecting invitations
12 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Abbreviations and Acronyms
CA Colloquial Arabic
ECA Egyptian Colloquial Arabic
LCA Levantine Colloquial Arabic
MSA Modern Standard Arabic
n. noun
v. verb
f.s. feminine singular
m.s. masculine singular
f.s.2 feminine singular with second person (أنت)
m.s.2 masculine singular with second person ( (أنت
LM Literal Meaning (word for word meaning)
IM Intended Meaning
Before reading this book, please keep in mind the following:
When there are no vowels like damma, kasra, fatḥa ( تشكيل، حركات ) on the last letter of the word, it is considered a sukon .
13 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Chapter 1 Contents:
A: Transitioning to CA: final voweling and greeting terms in Modern Standard and Colloquial Arabic
B: Greetings and ending conversations:
1. Formal greetings dialogue
2. Informal greetings dialogue
3. Practice: Complete the dialogue
C: Cultural insight: Ending a conversation in a culturally acceptable manner
A: Transitioning to CA:Final voweling and greeting terms in MSA and CA
One of the first points to keep in mind is that in CA, final voweling is almost
absent except for words like: ھال، عفوا، شكرا أ
For example, you say in MSA, “Are you a student?”
ھل أنت طالب؟
But in CA, you will drop the final voweling as well as ھل (we will explain in
chapter 2 what changes take place regarding “WH-” words). So, the same question
will be:
إنت طالب؟
14 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
You might have noticed that the hamza ھمزة in أنت has changed from fatḥa
to kasra but no changes have taken place on the ت. These changes will come
easily to you with more listening, interacting, and practicing in CA.
Greetings terms in MSA and CA: السالمات و التحيات
During your studies of MSA, you have probably learned greetings such as:
حالك؟ كيف -الخير مساء -الخيرصباح
Image source: http://mrg.bz/8JrQuM
Greetings do not significantly change from MSA to CA, but there are more
expressions used in CA (with even some repetition in meaning). It is common to
ask “how are you” several times using different expressions, as you will read in the
coming dialogues. It is part of the Arabic culture to greet your friends or
acquaintances by asking multiple times about them and their families to show
warmth and care. Let’s see some examples:
15 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
بالعامية ةالتحي
Greeting in CA
المعنى باإلنجليزية
English Translation
الرد بالعامية
Response in CA
المعنى باإلنجليزية
English Translation
الشرح
Explanation
Peace be السالم عليكم upon you.
عليكم -السالم السالم عليكو
“On you” is peace, meaning peace be upon you.
In MSA, there is a final damma on the م; which is dropped in CA. This greeting is used in several settings. For example, when one is passing by a group of people and wants to say hello quickly. It will not be said to ask about how one is doing. In more religious settings, like the mosque, the م and/or final damma will be pronounced. In everyday settings, the is often deleted and مreplaced by و. Listen to this funny song that might give you a feel of how native speakers use this greeting.
كيفك؟
How are you? male recipient (LCA)
-الحمد -د هللانحم
-نشكر هللا
تمام
منيح
Thank God We Thank God We thank God perfect; fine Good When the speaker is male (LCA)
In MSA, the attached possessive pronouns have the case endings: your book for) كتابك (أنت your book for) كتابك (أنت In CA, the MSA final voweling shifts to the letter before the attached pronoun; كتابك
16 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
كيفك؟
female recipient
منيحة
When the speaker is female.
becomes كتابك. Similarly, كيفك and .كيفك
إزيك؟
إزيك؟
How are you? male recipient (ECA) female recipient
Same responses as above but also you can say:
كويس
كويسة
good (for a male speaker) good (for a female speaker)
The responses listed in this row and the one above can be combined. For example, you can say: “ no ;”تمام الحمدorder required or preferred.
أخبارك إيه؟
عامل إيه؟
How are you? male recipient (ECA)
Same answers as above
شو أخبارك؟
ك؟ر شو أخبا
How are you? male recipient (LCA) female recipient
Same answers as above
17 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Image source: URI: http://mrg.bz/DTCpjF
Good صباح الخير morning
صباح النور
الفل صباح )(الياسمينو
Morning of light Morning of Jasmine
:الفلis a kind of Jasmine
The MSA damma on صباح disappears in CA
18 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
B: Greetings and ending conversations
1. Formal greetings conversation: at work محادثة رسمية بالعامية
وتعبيرات مھمة:كلمات
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
The word and
expression in CA
المعنى باإلنجليزية
The meaning
in English
بالفصحى يوالتعبير المساوالكلمة The equivalent in MSA
هالنھارد today ليوما
لكن but also in CA بس
عمل work also in CA شغل
كثيرا a lot كتيرNotice that in some dialects (e.g., ECA, LCA), Other dialects .ت sometimes changes into ث
(e.g., Gulf) keep it the same as in MSA.
as well/ too also in CA كمان أيضا
/after this بعدينthen ثم / بعد ذلك
.God willing The same expression is used in MSA إن شاء هللا
19 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
)1الحوار رقم (
This is a conversation between coworkers in a company as an example of a formal
setting.
صباح الخير يا سارة أحمد:
؟هحمد، إزيك؟ عامل إيه النھاردسارة: صباح النور يا أ
، إيه؟ وإنت عاملةأحمد: تمام، الحمد
بس عندي شغل كتير كويسة،سارة:
وهللا وأنا كمانأحمد:
سارة: طيب يا أحمد، نتكلم بعدين إن شاء هللا.
أحمد: إن شاء هللا!
Image source: Image URI: http://mrg.bz/Iy5S4b
20 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
2. Informal greetings conversation: at a friends’ gathering
رسمية بالعامية غير محادثة
وتعبيرات مھمة:كلمات
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
The word and expression in CA
المعنى باإلنجليزية
The meaning in English
يوالتعبير المساوالكلمة بالفصحى
The equivalent in MSA
passed/succeeded Same word with different نجحinternal voweling:
نجح
:his exams إمتحاناته إمتحان+ ات+ ه
same
LM (literal meaning): “better األولأحسن من than the first”
IM (Intended meaning): the situation is better than
before.
Almost the same in MSA except for changing one
word: أحسن من قبل
You can use this above-mentioned expression in CA
as well.
)(إنت كسؤال )(إنت سؤالك
your question female recipient
your question a male recipient
Same word with different internal voweling (on the
attached pronoun):
سؤالك سؤالك
my dear one حبيبتيa female recipient
Note, if this word is used between two people in love, it will mean
“my loved one.”
Same word with different internal voweling
حبيبتي
21 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
)2الحوار رقم (
This is a conversation between two female friends at a gathering as an example of
greetings in an informal setting.
؟كيفك دعاء،نورا: أھال يا
؟ كيفك؟وأنت دعاء: منيحة، نشكرهللا
. كيف (ال) ماما ) بابا؟و(النورا: تمام، الحمد
. وشو أخبار أخوك، نجح في إمتحاناته؟ ياسر،دعاء: بخير، الحمد
، تك؟ نورا: الحمد ة جد وكيف صح
شكرا على سؤالك (يا) حبيبتي! األول،دعاء: أحسن من
22 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
3. Practice: Complete the dialogue This is an incomplete dialogue in the audio files. Practice speaking by completing
the missing parts in this dialogue.
ھالة: أھال! أھال! كيفك؟
إنت/ إنت: __________________، _________________
. كيف ماما؟تمام ھالة: ، الحمد
إنت/ إنت: __________________
ھالة: وكيف بابا؟
إنت/ إنت: __________________، _________________
ك!ھالة: بخير، شكرا على سؤال
23 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
C: Cultural insight: Ending a conversation in a culturally acceptable manner
It is polite to end a conversation gradually, whether with a coworker, a
friend or a relative (especially if elderly or older than you). It is impolite to end
a conversation abruptly unless it is an emergency.
A very acceptable and polite way to end a conversation is explaining that
you are sorry that you have to leave but will hopefully talk soon or meet soon
(especially with older people). It is more relaxed with younger
generations. Consider the following template for wrapping up a conversation,
whether in person or over the phone:
أنا آسف / آسفة بس الزم أمشي علشان . . . :
I am sorry but I have to leave (go away/ walk away) because:
I have an appointment عندي ميعاد
I have work عندي شغل
I have an exam عندي إمتحان
إن شاء هللا. قريبنتكلم بعدين /
We will talk later/ soon, God willing.
24 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Chapter 2
Contents: A: Transitioning to CA: WH Question words in MSA and CA with examples
B: Requests:
1. Taxi
2. Train tickets
3. Restaurant
4. Practice: Complete the dialogue
C: Cultural insights: Giving directions
Image source: http://mrg.bz/hMIac6
25 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
A: Transitioning to CA: WH Question words in MSA and CA
Generally, there are few internal voweling changes in the MSA WH
question words when they are used in CA. Let’s have a look together:
الشرح
Explanation
المعنى باإلنجليزية
The meaning in English
بالعامية االستفھامأداة
“WH-” word in CA
االستفھامأداة بالفصحى
“WH-” word in MSA
Same uses as MSA how كيف
كيف
Same uses as MSA how much/many كم كام
Same uses as MSA What is the cost of…?
مك ب امك ب
Same uses as MSA where (LCA)
where ( ECA)
وين فين
ن ي أ
Same uses as MSA who من مين
Same uses as MSA when تىم متىإ
Same uses as MSA what شو(LCA) (ECA) إيه
ماذا
Same uses as MSA but slight difference in pronunciation in MSA; it can be أي أو أي أو أي
which أي أي
26 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
depending on the words
used with أي and its grammatical position in
the sentence.
Not used in CA for Yes/ No questions
Not used in conversations,
replaced by rising intonation for yes or
no questions
ھل/ أ
االستفھامأدوات الستخدامأمثلة
Examples of using WH words in short dialogues
أحمد: كيف الحال؟
، تمام .سارة: الحمد
__________________________________________________________
كام؟ أحمد: الساعة
سارة: تقريبا واحدة.
__________________________________________________________
أحمد: الكمبيوتر ده بكام؟
جنيه. ١٠٠٠سارة:
__________________________________________________________
سارة: فين الحمام لو سمحت؟
.اليمينأحمد: على
27 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
سارة: مين األستاذة ديه؟
أحمد: ديه أستاذة فدوة، أستاذة األدب الروسي.
__________________________________________________________
سارة: إمتى الحفلة؟
.خمسةالساعة أحمد:
_________________________________________________________
سارة: تحب تشرب إيه؟
.سمحت أحمد: شاي لو
_________________________________________________________
سارة: شو تحب تشرب؟
.أحمد: قھوة من فضلك
_________________________________________________________
) الصف يف (
في أي صفحة في الكتاب؟ الواجب :سارة
.أحمد: عشرين
__________________________________________________________
28 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
B: Requests
1. Taxi
)1لحوار رقم (ا
:وتعبيرات مھمةكلمات
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
The word and expression in CA
المعنى باإلنجليزية
The meaning in English
بالفصحى يوالتعبير المساوالكلمة
The equivalent in MSA
قائ س driver سواق
Usually in CA, the ء is either deleted or changing in form. In this case, it is deleted and is replaced by
a و and a ◌ (shadda)
is سيارة أجرة taxi In MSA, sometimes التاكسيused. LM: “a car with a fare.”
This word can mean هآ“yes” in response to
questions in Egyptian Arabic (as in the coming dialogue). It can also be a sound made when one
is in pain.
نعمAlso used in CA
)(إنت عندك )(إنت عندك
IM: “ you have” LM: “at you” because is ك & ”means “at عندan attached pronoun
Same word with different internal voweling. أنت عندك
29 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
أنت عندك
meter same ادعد
a little bit شوية
is the Egyptian for شويةa few or little
is levant for a few شوي or little. Example: I want a little water, please. .عايز شوية ميه لو سمحت
I want few apples, please. .عايز شوية تفاح لو سمحت
The equivalent in MSA is قليال and it can mean a few or little.
enter (m.s.2 imperative) No equivalent )(إنت خش
left It is used in MSA, together with شمال Both are used in MSA and .يسار
CA. In Gulf countries يسار is used more often
OK/ alright بطي Note: this word has 3 meanings: 1) ok/alright 2) delicious (food) 3) kind a person)
same
left then right شمال في يمين
Not used in MSA in this manner.
30 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
In this expression, means في
“immediately after” (left then
right immediately, with no streets/
roads in between).
)1( قمالحوار ر
الزبونة: مصر الجديدة؟
.هآسواق التاكسي:
اد؟الزبونة: عندك عد
.سواق التاكسي: أيوة
.تمامالزبونة:
….بعد شوية
!الزبونة: من فضلك خش شمال
.بطي سواق التاكسي:
31 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
خش شمال في يمين ماركت،الزبونة: عند السوبر
.بطي سواق التاكسي:
.أنزل ھنا لو سمحت عايزة :الزبونة
فين؟ ھنا التاكسي:سواق
.إتفضل ،الزبونة: عند السوبرماركت
.سواق التاكسي: شكرا
Image URI: http://mrg.bz/J9xXgG
32 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
2. Requesting train tickets
:وتعبيرات مھمةكلمات
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
الفصحىبو التعبير المساوي الكلمة المعنى باإلنجليزية
إنت)سمحت (لو
)(أنت لو سمحت
If you please female recipient
If you please male recipient
Used in MSA and more formally إذا سمحت
)(إنت من فضلك
)(إنت من فضلك
If you please female recipient
If you please male recipient
Same words with different internal voweling;
)فضلك (أنت من
)فضلك (أنت من
As you might have noticed, نت أ with the ء on the ‘Alif is MSA while in CA, the ء is below the ‘Alif, causing the difference in pronunciation; same with أنت in
MSA becoming إنت or إنتي.
ticket تذكرةIn some countries like Egypt and Sudan, the ذ
changes in pronunciation to be z. In
same
33 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
other countries, like in the gulf, the ذ is
pronounced the same as in MSA.
No exact English على فين؟equivalent except the
closest IM: “Where are you heading?”
LM: “To where?”
إلى أين؟
IM is “is/are going” but رايحit is not a verb in
Arabic. It could be translated as the “goer” or in this dialogue “are
going.”
ذاھبIt is اسم فاعل or active participle,
meaning the doer of the action. It can replace the verb and be
translated as “going.”
”IM: “return ticket جي -رايح LM: “ going and
coming back”
إيابذھاب و
أو or The equivalent in MSA is وال which is used in CA. But وال is
not used in MSA.
(Watch this song in CA where the signer is using وال throughout the
song).
train قطر
Note: the ق in most of Egypt and parts of the
Levant is pronounced as In .(a glottal stop) ءsome dialects, it is
قطار
34 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
pronounced as ج or just like MSA.
باحلص ا the morning حب الص
باليل at night باليلSometimes in MSA and CA في is
used as well in place of ب to mean “at.”
In the context of the درجةcoming dialogue, it
means “class” in a train.
Same and “step” or, if one is talking about the weather, it
means “degree temperature” درجة الحرارة
IM: “60 Egyptian بستين جنيهpounds (cost)” LM: “ with 60
Egyptian pounds”
same
لي إتفض
ل إتفض
here (offering s.th.) female recipient
male recipient
Same but with the deletion of the initial إ in CA
تفضلي تفضل
مال money الفلوس
”IM: “travel safely بالسالمةLM: “with safety”
35 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Image source: http://mrg.bz/QlDL7P
)2( مقالحوار ر
ممكن تذكرة؟ سمحت،المسافر: لو
موظفة: على فين؟ال
المسافر: إسكندرية إن شاء هللا
جي؟ -موظفة: رايح بس وال رايح ال
بس من فضلك رايح :المسافر
ليل؟باب، عايز قطر الصبح وال طيموظفة: ال
36 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
باليل. نممكالمسافر:
موظفة: قطر الساعة كام؟ ستة وال تسعة؟ ال
.المسافر: تسعة
موظفة: درجة أولى وال تانية؟ال
؟والتانيةالمسافر: بكام تذكرة الدرجة األولى
.والتانية بأربعينموظفة: الدرجة األولى بستين جنيه ال
ل .الفلوس يالمسافر: درجة أولى، إتفض
.موظفة: بالسالمة إن شاء هللال
.المسافر: شكرا
Note:
A very useful expression that is commonly used is “ممكن” which means “It is
possible.” When your intonation is rising, “ممكن” means “Is it possible?” as in the
previous dialogue.
37 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
3. At the restaurant
Image source: http://mrg.bz/efGBz0
:وتعبيرات مھمةكلمات
اوي الكلمة والتعبير المس المعنى باإلنجليزية الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية الفصحىب
فيكي وسھال أھال
فيك وسھال أھال
بيكي وسھال أھال
بيك وسھال أھال
welcome female recipient (LCA)
welcome male recipient
welcome female recipient (ECA)
welcome male recipient
(أنت) وسھال بك أھال
(أنت) بك وسھال ھال أ
إنت)…..( تحبي LM: “you (f.) like” same
38 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
IM: “ would you like?” when followed by a rise
in intonation
قائمة الطعام the menu المنيوStill used in restaurants and
newspapers together with the borrowed word المنيو
ديب
عايزة) -(عايز
I want
does not change with speaker’s gender
,dish or plate alternatively طبقunlike English.
same
stuffed leaves (LCA) ملفوف
It is called محشي (ECA)
something ( LCA) إشي
حاجة(ECA)
يءش
In the context of the تانيcoming dialogue, it
means “another” but it can also mean “second.”
second ثاني
"another” آخر
أرز rice رز
milk ( LCA) حليب
)ECA( لبن
same
39 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
In Egypt, yogurt is يزباد while in the Levant, لبن is
yogurt.
is levant for a few or شوي شوي little.
is the Egyptian for a شويةfew or little
Example: I want little water, please.
سمحتعايز شوية ميه لو I want few apples, please. عايز شوية تفاح لو سمحت
قليال
أعجبك ”The LM: “pleases you عجبك
delicious. See taxi طيبconversation for more
information.
same word or لذيذ
:LM: “check (n.)” IM الشيك“receipt or bill”
This word can be used in MSA as a borrowed term.
40 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
)3( مقالحوار ر
.وسھال فيكيالجارسونة: أھال
.أھال الزبونة:
تحبي تشربي؟ شو الجارسونة:
.ليمون /عصير لمونالزبونة: أحب أشرب
الجارسونة: إتفضلي المنيو، شو تحبي تأكلي؟
كبير. وطبق حمصملفوف بديالزبونة:
الجارسونة: إشي تاني؟
.الزبونة: أل
الجارسونة: أي حلويات؟
.الزبونة: ممكن رز بالحليب
…..بعد شوي
41 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
الجارسونة: األكل عجبك؟
الزبونة: كتير طيب، ممكن الشيك؟
.الجارسونة: إتفضلي
.الزبونة: شكرا
Image source: http://mrg.bz/e3qHas
42 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
4. Practice: Complete the dialogue This is an incomplete dialogue in the audio files. Practice speaking by completing
the missing parts in this dialogue:
مھمة:الوتعبيرات كلمات
المعنى باإلنجليزية الكلمة بالعربية
square (city) ميدان
pharmacy الصيدلية
الزبونة: ميدان شوبرا؟
_______________________________التاكسي: سواق
ك عداد؟دالزبونة: عن
_______________________________التاكسي: سواق
سمحت عند البنك الزبونة: خش شمال ھنا لو
_______________________________التاكسي: سواق
43 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
ھنا عند الصيدلية، إتفضل…..الزبونة: ھنا لوسمحت
_______________________________التاكسي: سواق
C: Cultural insights: Giving directions
Giving directions in colloquial Arabic is giving hands-on directions, asking
the person to take different turns and heavily using landmarks. GPS or Sat Nav has
not been in much use in several Arab countries. Many people depend on each other
for directions. For example, it is very common in Cairo for taxi drivers to ask
pedestrians for directions or even drivers ask taxi drivers while waiting in a stop or
sometimes while driving!
Landmarks can be supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, banks, etc. You
can be given an address whose literal translation sounds like this:
17 Ahmed ‘Orabi Street by HSBC bank, first floor, apartment 5.
In Arabic:
٥بجانب بنك مصر، الدور األول، شقة يأحمد عرابشارع ١٧
Therefore, when you are going to a new place, leave early and keep the
phone number of the destination available to call in case you need further
directions.
44 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Chapter 3
Contents:
A: Transitioning to CA: Verb tenses
B: Dialogues:
1. At the sports club (present tense) 2. Missing a lecture at the university (future tense)
3. What did you do yesterday? (past tense)
4. Practice: Complete the dialogue
C: Cultural insight: Phone conversations and communicating with different age groups in the Arab world
A: Transitioning to CA: Verb tenses
In MSA, there are additions, known as prefixes and suffixes, added to the
root when the verb is conjugated in the present tense. These remain largely the
same in CA, but in some dialects (ECA, LCA), ب is added at the beginning of the
verb to indicate habitual action. For example:
MSA: في الصباح ح آكل التفا
CA: بآكل التفاح في الصباح
45 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Let’s read and listen to more examples of present tense conjugations in MSA and CA:
المعنى
Meaning
الفعل المضارع في العامية
Present Tense (CA)
الفعل المضارع في الفصحى
Present Tense (MSA)
الضمائر المنفصلةIndependent
Pronouns
I understand أنا أفھم / بفھمبافھم
read (m.s.2) إنت تقرأ بتقرا )MSA أنت (
write (f.s.2) إنت تكتبين بتكتبي )MSA أنت (
he eats ھو يأكل بياكل
she plays ھي تلعب بتلعب
we drink إحنا نشرب بنشرب )MSA (نحن
you (all) cook
وإنت تطبخون بتطبخوا )MSA أنتم(
Image URI: http://mrg.bz/rG0zHj
46 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
B: Dialogues
1. At the sports club :وتعبيرات مھمةكلمات
بالفصحى يوالتعبير المساوالكلمة المعنى باإلنجليزية
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
same the club Unlike English, where the club can be a night destination for dancing
and partying, النادي in several Arab countries
refers to a sporting club. For nightclub,
“disco” or “night club” is used.
النادي
أين أنت؟The expression من زمان means from a very long time. Listen to
this song.
LM: “Where are you from a long
time?”
IM: “Where have you been?”
أنت فين من زمان؟
N/A LM: “Whoever sees you will live.” A
compliment signifying happiness to see the person, usually said
when two people have not seen each other in a
long time.
شافكعاش من (إنت)
same LM: “by God” IM: emphasis
وهللا
same busy مشغول
47 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
same work شغل
same
LM: “to the extent that you forget your
friends”
لدرجة إنك تنسى أصحابك
ب+اصحى أصحو أو أستيقظI wake up
باصحى
وبعدين then ثم
ب+ افطر أفطرI eat breakfast
بافطر
N/A LM: “along the length”
IM: “all the time” The expression can also
mean “immediately,” or “straight” when
giving directions, or “honest” when
describing a person.
على طول
same meetings singular: جتماعإ
إجتماعات
same discussions singular: مناقشة
مناقشات
same fights and arguments
خناقات
دوشة noise ضوضاء
Same, but the preposition used after this verb is إلى.
I return
…أرجع ل أرجع لبيت أحمد
I return to Ahmed’s house
أرجع
48 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
آكل العشاءThe ء in MSA changes in CA or
sometimes deleted.
I eat dinner باكل العشا
بانام I sleep نامأ
m.s.2 يومك
f.s.2 يومك
your day (f.s.2) يومك
filled (objects) مليء
chubby (person)
مليان
same boss/ director المدير
same responsible for عنمسؤول
حاجة something ( ECA) شيء
same and also أطفالي my children أوالدي
اكر زبا I study ذاكر أ
same and “duties.” homework (it is plural in Arabic)
LM: “ assignments”
الواجبات
باروح I go ذھب أ
هللا معك
ومعك
May God be with you
Our= رب+ نا God/Lord
=)+ا+ ك (ي معWith you
LM: “and with you” IM: “May God be with you as well.”
ربنا معاكي
ومعاك
49 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
)1( مقالحوار ر
)في النادي(
.يا محمود!…ھدى: محمود
محمود: أھال أھال! ھدى! ياه!
نت فين من زمان؟إھدى:
أنا و هللا مشغول في الشغل…. شافكمحمود: عاش من
ھدى: ليه؟ لدرجة إنك تنسى أصحابك! ال ال!
محمود: و هللا كل يوم، باصحى بدري حوالي الساعة ستة و بعدين أسوق للشغل و بعدين
أرجع بو بعدين … دوشة….و مناقشات و خناقاتو على طول إجتماعات …ھناكبافطر
العشا و بانام.البيت وباكل
!ھدى: ياه! إنت يومك مليان شغل
إنت عاملة إيه؟…مدير و مسؤول عن كل حاجةمحمود: أنا ال
50 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
اكر معاھم للواجبات و باروح معاھم زمشغولة مع أوالدي...كل يوم با ھدى: و هللا ، أنا كمان
نروح النادي كل يوم جمعة.المدرسة و بنام الساعة عشرة بعد يوم طويل...بس ب
محمود: ربنا معاكي يا ھدى
تحب نلعب تنس؟…ھدى: ومعاك يا محمود
يال!محمود:
How to form the future tense:
In MSA, there are two ways to form the future, by adding س as a prefix or
the word سوف , both before the present tense. For example
.I play in the (sporting) club .ألعب في النادي
.I will play in the (sporting) club .سألعب في النادي
In CA, the equivalent of س is the letter ه or ح.
.I will play in the (sporting) club .العب في الناديح
.I will play in the (sporting) club .الناديالعب في ھ
51 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
2. Missing a lecture at the university
:وتعبيرات مھمةكلمات
بالفصحى يوالتعبير المساوالكلمة الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية المعنى باإلنجليزية
It said in several different ways:
بك يا نادية؟ماذا
ھل ھناك شيء ما؟
What is wrong, Nadia?
إيه يا نادية؟
إنت عيانة؟ ?Are you sick ؟ھل أنت مريضة
same LM: “At me is cold” IM: “ I have cold”
عندي برد
حاروح I will go سأذھب
.سأذھب إلى الدكتور أو
.سأذھب إلى الطبيبNotice that the preposition after ل while it is إلى in MSA is أذھب
in CA.
I will go to the doctor.
حاروح للدكتور
بكرة tomorrow غدا
سأشتري سوف أشتري
I will buy حاشتري
دوا medicine دواء
same vitamin C فيتامين سي
same May you feel better. (root س.ل.م)
سالمتك
52 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
same response to the previous LM: “May God
make you safe/sound”
هللا يسلمك
It means “correct.” “correct” or “by the way,” as in the
following dialogue.
صحيح
نيت ھناك واجب فا
There is = فيه LM: “There is
homework which I missed/passed by
me.”
فاتني = فات + ن+ي gone فات:
is added with the نattached pronouns in verbs (an MSA rule
extended to CA). means mine (an MSA ي
possessive pronouns used in CA).
فيه واجب فاتني
سنقرأ سوف نقرأ
we will read حنقرا
same the first part/ chapter الجزء األول
same the novel الرواية
same for (the) lecture ل+ محاضرة
لمحاضرة
same English literature األدب اإلنجليزي
سنكتب سوف نكتب
we will write/compose
حنكتب
same research/paper بحث
53 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
أخذ In some dialects, the ذ stays the same as MSA and in others like
ECA, ذ changes into د.
I take آخد
آخد منك I take from you آخذ منك
same lectures المحاضرات
this (non-human plural ھذهas well as singular
feminine)
ديه
same Thursday يوم الخميس
same surely أكيد
سأعطيك سوف أعطيك
I will give you (f.s.2) حاديكي
سأراك سوف أراك
I will see you حشوفك
same at/in the cafeteria في الكافيتريا
Complimenting and thanking for people’s help is crucial in the
Arabic culture. This expression and its response can be said in
different ways but the message is the same.
LM: “I made you tired with me.”
IM: “I caused you lots of trouble.” (an expression to thank a
person for help)
The response LM: “there is neither
tiredness nor anything.”
IM: “there is no trouble at all.”
تعبتك معايا
وال حاجةمافيش تعب
54 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
same LM: “peace.” (shortened form of good
bye) It is used among young
people who are close friends. It is considered rude if it is at the end of a conversation with an
elder. The response is the
same.
سالم
N/A term of endearment
In the Arabic culture, they give each other endearing names. If the person’s name
has a ن like in نادية, the endearing name could be نونو. If the
person’s name is the endearing ,جمال
name could be Also .جوجو or جيمي
also used with babies and children.
نونو
same LM: "beautiful." (Used in this context
to express endearment. Only used among close friends and loved
ones.)
جميلة
55 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Listen to the conversation between two female friends over the phone; Nadia is
sick and has missed lectures at the university.
Image URI: http://mrg.bz/diRzJI
)2( الحوار رقم
آلو...مين معايا؟ نادية:
... إنت عيانة؟الناديفي وال إنت مش في الجامعة .إيه يا نادية؟ إنت فين؟ ..ىھدھدى: أنا
.أيوة، عندي برد. حاروح للدكتور بكرة و حاشتري دوا و فيتامين سي نادية:
.سالمتك ھدى:
في الجامعة؟ هإنھاردح، فيه واجب فاتني هللا يسلمك...صحي نادية:
56 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
، حنقرا الجزء األول من الرواية لمحاضرة األدب اإلنجليزي و حنكتب بحث.هآھدى:
نادية: ممكن آخد منك المحاضرات ديه يوم الخميس؟
.ھدى: أكيد إن شاء هللا حاديكي المحاضرات وحشوفك في الكافيتريا يوم الخميس
.ھدى، تعبتك معايانادية: شكرا يا
.سالم يا نونو…وال حاجةھدى: مافيش تعب
.نادية: سالم يا جميلة
57 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
How to form the past tense
Forming the past tense in CA is the same as MSA except that the final
voweling is suppressed to be sukon and sometimes there are internal voweling
changes:
MSA: كتبت
CA: كتبت
MSA: لعبت
CA: لعبت
In the first example, the only changes were at the end of the word in CA.
The final letter is unvoweled and pronounced with a sukon. In the second example,
two changes took place in the CA. The first is the unvoweled last letter. The
second change is the middle letter root of the verb ع. It has a كسرة in MSA, and it
changed into .in CA فتحة
The verbs شرب and فھم are examples of verb form 1 on the pattern of فعل in
MSA; this pattern vowels changes to a--a or i--i in CA1.
This means that in MSA verbs like شرب and with kasra in the middle مفھ
will be in CA a--a ( fatha--fathaa) or i--i ( kasra--kasra) on the first and the second
letter of the pattern one verb. In some dialects and even within different towns in
Egypt, they can be pronounced فھم and شرب.
1 Abbas Al-Tonsi and Laila Al-Sawi, An Intensive Course in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic, Part 1 (American University in Cairo 1986) 8
58 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Read and listen to the past tense conjugations sampling form 1 verbs:
التعليق
المعنى باإلنجليزية
لفعل الماضي ا في العامية
الفعل الماضي في الفصحى
رضمائال
takes kasra, and the فfinal vowel is sukoon
I understood أنا ھمت ف ھمت ف
final sukoon entered (m.s.2) إنت دخلت دخلت
no change wrote (f.s.2) إنت كتبت كتبت
final sukoon he ate ھو أكل أكل
takes kasra, and the لfinal vowel is sukoon
she played ھي عبت ل عبت ل
إحنا ربناش ربناش takes kasra we drank ش
final و you (all) cooked
إنتوا م ت طبخ وطبخت
Image URI: http://mrg.bz/YQejBx
59 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
In the following dialogue, you will find verbs like إتفرجت and متإتكل . These
are form 5 in MSA تكلم ، تفرج. In CA, إ is added at the beginning of the verb (form
6 also2). In addition, the vowel on the second root letter is kasra.
Examples: Form 5
MSA CA
.م عن الدرسل تك إأحمد .تكلم أحمد عن الدرس
.مت عربيل تع إ الطالبة .تعلمت الطالبة العربية
As you can see, the ا is added in the verb form 5 in CA and kasra in the
middle root letter. The root letters of تعلم are .ل. مع and for تكلم are ك. ل. م.
On a different note, you might have noticed that in CA, the sentences are
mostly nominal if the doer is mentioned.
2 Al-Tonsi,8
60 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
After the following dialogue, some features of the weak verbs used in the
dialogue are explained:
يوالتعبير المساوالكلمة بالفصحى
الكلمة والتعبير المعنى باإلنجليزية بالعامية
?What’s wrong (with you) مالك ( m.s.2)
مالك؟
N/A LM: “You look as if you need sleep.”
IM: “Your appearance needs sleep.”
محتاج نوم! كشكل
إمبارح yesterday أمس
الشغل work أو العمل الشغل
إلى….من
LM: “ from 7 o’clock in the morning to 10 o’clock
at night” ل… من
الساعة سابعة من عشرة بليللالصبح
باشتغل على I am working on اشتغل في أو أعمل في
same project مشروع
ذھبت note following the dialogue
I went رحت
علشان because ألن
جعان hungry جوعان
أخذت
I took خدت/أخدت
رجعت I returned رجعت
الساعة إتناشر o’clock 12 الساعة الثانية عشرة
61 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
بليل at night بالليل
علشان كده because of this لھذا
same tired تعبان
هإنھارد today اليوم
ت ل م ع I made/I did عملت
same the market السوق
إشتريت I bought إشتريت
same vegetables خضار
ت ج ر ف ت Also different meanings including
“spread out.” You can check its various meanings in MSA by
clicking here.
I watched إتفرجت على
التليفزيون same and TVالتلفاز
إتكلمت مع I talked with تكلمت مع
صاحبتي my female friend صاحبتي
نمت See note following the dialogue
I slept نمت
الساعة عشرة ten o’clock الساعة العاشرة
نص half نصف
same LM: “God makes all your days sweet.”
IM: “May God make all your days pleasant.” This is a compliment.
نا يجعل أيامك كلھاب ر حلوة!
62 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
replaced with كمان أيضا IM: “And yours as well, God willing.”
(one response to the previous compliment)
و أيامك إنت كمان إن شاء هللا!
3. What did you do yesterday? Listen to the conversation between two colleagues talking about what they did
yesterday.
)3( مقالحوار ر
ك محتاج نوم!عبد الرحمن؟ شكل مالك يا يسرا:
.عبد الرحمن: فعال...إمبارح كان يوم طويل
يسرا: عملت إيه إمبارح؟
عة الصبح لعشرة بليل علشان باشتغل على ب عبد الرحمن: كنت في الشغل من الساعة س
مشروع.
ين؟دعبويسرا: ياه! عشرة بليل!
رجعت البيت حوالي ت تاكسي ود خ المطعم علشان كنت جعان وأ بعدين رحت عبد الرحمن: و
الساعة إتناشر بليل.
.هعلشان كده أنت تعبان إنھارد يسرا:
63 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
إنت؟ عملت إيه إمبارح؟عبد الرحمن: و
كلمت مع صاحبتيعلى التليفزيون وإت وبعدين إتفرجتخضار وإشتريترحت السوق يسرا:
نمت حوالي الساعة عشرة و نص.و في التليفون
امك كلھا حلوة!يجعل أي ناب ر رحمن: تمام...كان يومك جميل...عبد ال
إنت كمان إن شاء هللا! وأيامكيسرا:
Image URI: http://mrg.bz/xcyuE4
64 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Note:
In the previous dialogue, you have seen the weak verbs نمت كنت ، رحت ، .
Let’s have a look at their conjugations:
Listen and read conjugations of some weak verbs in CA and MSA:
الضمائر Pronouns
CA
المضارع في الفصحى
Present tense in MSA
الماضي في الفصحى
Past tense in MSA
في الماضي العامية
Past tense in
CA (كان)
الماضي في العامية
Past tense in
CA (راح)
الماضي في العامية
Past tense in
CA (نام)
مت ن رحت كنت كنت ن وأك أنا
مت ن رحت كنت كنت نوتك إنت
مت ن رحت كنت كنت نين وتك إنت
ام ن راح كان ناك نويك ھو
امت ن راحت كانت كانت نوتك ھي
نام ن رحنا كنا كنا نونك إحنا
65 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
4. Practice: Complete the dialogue This is an incomplete dialogue in the audio files. Practice speaking by completing
the missing parts in this dialogue:
سارة: أھال يا أحمد، عامل إيه؟
أحمد:_________________، ______________؟
. عملت إيه إمبارح؟ سارة: الحمد
أحمد:____________________________
سارة: صحيح حتعمل إيه بكرة؟
أحمد:________________________
بكرة؟سارة: ياه، أنت مشغول أوي. ممكن تيجي معايا الحفلة
أحمد: _____________________
على فكرة، لما حنروح الحفلة بكرة، ممكن نتعشى. أنت كل يوم بتتعشى إمتى؟… سارة: تمام
أحمد: ______________، _______؟
سارة: بتعشى حوالى الساعة سابعة.
أحمد: ______________!
سارة: إن شاء هللا، أشوفك بكرة.
66 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
C: Cultural insight: Phone conversations and communicating among different age groups in the Arab world
Image URI: http://mrg.bz/h4ds9X
Between young people in the Arab world, texting and social media like
Facebook and applications like Whats App are commonly used instead of email to
plan an outing or meeting. However, it is culturally inappropriate to only text an
older person to set up an appointment. Calling an older person (friend or
acquaintance) or a manager (in a work setting) is more appropriate for any kind of
communication.
The concept of time is more fluid in the Arab culture where parties can
extend for hours; showing up on time is not very common. This is why it is
important to have a cell phone to check if the person is on the way to the meeting
place or not, especially in big cities where traffic can be an issue.
67 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Chapter 4
Contents:
A: Transitioning to CA: Negation in MSA vs CA
1. Mini dialogues
B: Accepting and rejecting invitations:
1. Accepting an invitation to lunch
2. Politely rejecting an invitation to an outing
3. Practice: Complete the dialogue
C: Cultural insights: Tips on dealing with culturally sensitive situations
A: Transitioning to CA: Negation in MSA vs CA
During your studies of MSA, you have probably noticed that the present
tense is negated using ال, past tense using ما, and non-verbal sentences using ليس.
There are more tools of negation like لم، لن، ال الناھية ، ال النافية. The good news is
that in CA, the negation is much simpler with fewer tools to use.
One of the equivalents of ليس in the Egyptian dialect is مش . In the Levant,
it is ما, and in the Gulf, مو. You can add مش before non-verbs to negate, regardless
of the gender.
68 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
:sxampleE
.محمود مش طويل
Mahmoud is not tall.
.سامية مش طويلة
Samiya is not tall.
.األوالد مش طوال
The boys are not tall.
.الولدين مش طوال
The two boys are not tall.
Note: The dual is used in CA but treated grammatically as plural. The word طوال is
the broken plural for طويل. The dual pronouns like ھما، أنتما are not used in CA.
أحمد مش عايز قھوة.
I.M is: Ahmed does not want coffee.
L.M is: Ahmed is not the “wanter” of the coffee/is not wanting coffee.
صفية مش عايزة قھوة.
I.M: Safiyaa does not want coffee.
L.M: Safiyaa is not the “wanter” of the coffee/is not wanting coffee.
69 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Note:
.اسم فاعل are not verbs in Arabic; they are active participles known as عايزة ‘عايز
Read more here about the active participle in English. For more explanation and
examples on the active participle in ECA, check this link.
To negate verbs, whether present or past, in ECA use ما before the verb and
:after it. For example, “We do not eat” is ش
شبناكل ما
Read and listen to following examples of present tense verbs and their negation:
اإلنجليزيةالمعنى باللغة
الفعل المنفي في المضارع في جملةNegated verb in a
sentence
الفعل في المضارع
الضمائر
I do not understand French. .أنا بافھم مابفھمش فرنساوي
You don’t read newspapers. .إنت بتقرا مابتقراش جرايد
Why don’t you (f.s.2) write in the papers?
مابتكتبيش في الورق ليه؟
إنت بتكتبي
He doesn’t eat a lot. .ھو بياكل مابياكلش كتير
She doesn’t play in the sand. .ھي بتلعب مابتلعبش في الرمل
We do not smoke shisha. (”also means “drink بنشرب)
. شيشةمابنشربش إحنا بنشرب
You (all) don’t cook in the morning.
.مابتطبخوش الصبح إنتم بتطبخوا
70 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
To negate the future, just formulate the future verb in ECA by adding ح
before the present tense. The second step is using مش before the verb. For example:
ش حنلعب ھنا.م We will not play here.
مش حآكل في المطعم ده!
I will not eat in this restaurant!
Note: In the future tense, the present-tense “ب” is deleted.
Mini-Dialogues: Examples of using negations and invitations
المساوي والتعبير الكلمة المعنى باإلنجليزية الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية في الفصحى
”LM: “by God وهللاIM: (emphasis)
same
نذھب we go نروح
”LM: “something cold حاجة ساقعةIM: “a cold drink”
(incl. soda pop)
ساقع أوشراب شراب بارد
I run same أجري
”LM: “ come with me تيجي معاياIM: “ join me”
تأتي معي
not free ( for a person) مش فاضي
not empty ( for an object)
N/A
لكنbut (also used in CA) سب
71 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
األسبوع القادمnext (the coming) week األسبوع الجاي
busy same مشغول
.ليس عندي وقت .I don’t have time ماعنديش وقت
"LM: "second chance فرصة تانيةIM: "There will be
another time to meet or do what was planned."
فرصة قادمة
exam same إمتحان
ما+ باكل+ ش ماباكلش
I do not eat
ال آكل
Indian same الھندي
Chinese same الصيني
sugar cane juice same عصير قصب
ال أشرب I do not drink مابشربش
pomegranate juice same انم عصير ر
سارة: تحب ناكل أيس كريم يا باسم؟
و نشرب حاجة ساقعة.بس ممكن نروح الكوفي شوب عايز، باسم: ال و هللا / مش
__________________________________________________________
72 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
سامية: أنا عايزة أروح النادي علشان أجري في التراك، تيجي معايا؟
ممكن فرصة تانية؟، وماعنديش وقتأنا مشغول وهللا مايكل: __________________________________________________________
نورا: يا مصطفى، عندك وقت نروح السينما يوم الجمعة؟
.ش فاضي، عندي إمتحان بس ممكن نروح األسبوع الجايمصطفى: م __________________________________________________________
نادية: يال نروح المطعم الھندي!
بس ممكن نروح المطعم الصيني.، أنا ماباكلش األكل الھندي: عبد هللا
________________________________________________________
مصطفى: تحبي تيجي معايا نشرب عصير قصب؟
حاشرب عصير رمان. قصب،حاجي معاك، بس مابشربش عصير ه،آفرح:
_________________________________________________________________
73 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
B: Accepting and rejecting invitations:
1. Accepting an invitation to lunch :وتعبيرات مھمةكلمات
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
الفصحىب والتعبير المساوي الكلمة المعنى باإلنجليزية
؟يد تحبي تتغ
؟تحب تتغدى
Would you (f.s.2) like to have lunch?
(m.s.2)
؟أن تأكلي الغداء نتحبيھل
Note: MSA usually requires “ أن” between two verbs (except in
certain grammatical structures). In CA, you can put two verbs
together without “ أن”.
With me ( regardless of معاياgender) (ECA)
(LCA) معي
معي
غدا tomorrow بكرة
ليحوا approximately حوالي
possible ممكن(question or statement
depending on intonation)
(أن) ممكنمن ال
يناسبك؟
LM: “Does it suit you?” (f.s.2)
IM: “Does it work for you?”
ھل يناسبك؟
74 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
وهللا إنت كلك ذوق ).(زوق
LM: “By God, you are all thoughtfulness.”
(compliment)
IM: “By God (for emphasis), you are very
thoughtful.”
LM: “You are the one .إنت اللي كلك ذوقwho is thoughtful.”
(answer to the previous
compliment)
is the relative pronoun الليequivalent to all of the MSA
relative pronouns which include: الذي، التي، الذين ...إلخ
)1( مقالحوار ر
ھشام: أھال يا مريم، عاملة إيه؟
؟نت وإمريم: الحمد
، تحبي تتغدي معايا بكرة ومع سارة ومحمود؟ھشام: الحمد
بكرة إمتى؟ ...مريم: أكيد
ھشام: حوالي الساعة ثالثة؟ يناسبك؟
ھدى:أكيد... ممكن طبعا، وهللا إنت كلك ذوق (زوق).
.ھشام: إنت اللي كلك ذوق
75 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
2. Politely rejecting an invitation to an outing
:وتعبيرات مھمةكلمات
الفصحىب والتعبير المساوي الكلمة المعنى باإلنجليزية الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
سنذھب we will go حنطلع
Come! same (إنت) تعالي
يعادم appointment معاد
مشكلةليس ھناك no problem (there is) ما في مشكلة
with you (plural) معكم(LCA)
same
impossible same مستحيل
)2( مقالحوار ر
يكل: نانسي، كيفك؟ما
نانسي: نحمد هللا/ كيفك أنت؟
، إحنا حنطلع على السينما بكرة، إنت جاية طبعا؟مايكل: منيح، صحيح
.عاد عند الدكتورنانسي: بكرة؟ صعب، عندي م
.الدكتور، ما في مشكلةمعاد مايكل: تعالي على السينما بعد
مرة تانية إن شاء هللا. وهللا مستحيل،نانسي: أحب أكون معكم بس
مايكل: أكيد إن شاء هللا.
76 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
3. Practice: Complete the dialogue This is an incomplete dialogue in the audio files. Practice speaking by completing
the missing parts in this dialogue:
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية
والتعبير المساوي الكلمة المعنى باإلنجليزية الفصحىب
نذھب we go ( present tense) نروح
مافيش مشكلة
(there is) no problem (ECA)
ليس ھناك مشكلة
سينما؟الصفية: تحب نروح
ياسين: _________________
صفية: ممكن الساعة خمسة؟
ياسين: ____________
صفية: ممكن الساعة ستة، مافيش مشكلة!
_____________ياسين:
!صفية: إن شاء هللا، مع السالمة
77 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
C: Cultural insights: Tips on dealing with culturally sensitive situations
Image URI: http://mrg.bz/W7M8Hk
Communicating between people of different cultures, speaking in their
second or third language is exciting but presents frequent chances for
misunderstanding. It is important to keep an open mind, especially if you
encounter a sensitive or uncomfortable situation in an Arab country. For example,
if you are busy and you are invited to lunch or an outing, but your friend cannot
accept your “No,” what would you do so as not to offend your friend and still not
attend the outing? You can explain the reason and offer to make it up another time.
Some of the expressions used in these situations are listed in dialogue 2 and the
mini-dialogues in this chapter.
Consider also questions that are culturally accepted in the Arab world in the
first encounter but not in the US (for example, age, religion, marital status, etc). If
you do not feel comfortable answering them, you can politely refuse by saying that
in your culture, it is considered personal. Explaining why you cannot answer could
also be a learning opportunity for the other person. Speaking a second language is
an ongoing learning process that includes learning the target culture and will
always provide perspectives on new ideas and ways of life.
78 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
Glossary
الكلمة والتعبير بالعامية المعنى باإلنجليزية
a cold drink حاجة ساقعة
12 o’clock الساعة إتناشر
a little bit شوية
approximately حوالي
Are you sick? عيانة؟إنت
at night بليل /باليل
at the cafeteria في الكافيتريا
beautiful جميلة
because علشان
because of this علشان كده
boss/ director المدير
busy مشغول
but بس
Chinese الصيني
Come! (f.s.2) (إنت) تعالي
Come! (m.s.2) (إنت) ىتعال
LM: “Come with me” تيجي معايا
delicious/ OK/ kind طيب
discussions مناقشات
dish/ plate طبق
driver سواق
Does it work for you? (f.s.2) يناسبك؟
English literature األدب اإلنجليزي
enter (m.s.2) ) إنت)خش
exam إمتحان
79 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
wrote (f.s.2) كتبت
fights and arguments خناقات
filled مليان from 7 o’clock in the morning to 10
o’clock at night من الساعة سابعة الصبح لعشرة بليل
God makes your days all sweet بنا يجعل أيامك كلھا حلوة!ر
good منيح
good morning ( response) صباح النور
good morning صباح الخير
half نص
he ate أكل
his exams إمتحاناته
homework الواجبات
how كيف
How are you? ( ECA) أخبارك إيه؟
How are you? male recipient (ECA) إزيك؟
How are you? male recipient (LCA) كيفك؟
how much/many كام
hungry جعان
I am working on باشتغل على
I don’t have time ماعنديش وقت
I eat breakfast بافطر
I eat dinner باكل العشا
I go باروح
I made/I did عملت
I returned رجعت
I run أجري
I sleep بانام
I slept نمت
80 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
I study بازاكر
I take آخد
I talked with إتكلمت مع
I took خدت /أخدت
I understood فھمت
I wake up باصحى
I want/would like (ECA) ديب
I want/would like (LCA) عايزة) -(عايز
I watched إتفرجت على
I went رحت
I will buy حاشتري
I will give you (f.s.2) حاديكي
I will go حاروح
I will go to the doctor حاروح للدكتور
I will see you حشوفك
I will take from you آخد منك
If you please (female recipient) (إنت) لو سمحت
If you please (female recipient) (إنت) من فضلك
If you please (male recipient) (إنت) لو سمحت
If you please (male recipient) (إنت) من فضلك
IM: “where?” على فين؟
IM: “going” رايح
IM: “I don’t have the time.” ماعنديش وقت
IM: “60 Egyptian pounds (cost)” بستين جنيه
IM: ‘better than before.” أحسن من األول
IM: “travel safely.” بالسالمة
IM: “You have” (إنت) عندك
IM: “You have” (إنت) عندك
impossible مستحيل
81 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
milk حليب
Indian الھندي correct or by the way (depending on the
context) صحيح
possible ممكن Lectures
(singular محاضرة) المحاضرات
left شمال
left then right شمال في يمين LM: "another chance"
IM: "There will be another time to meet or do what was planned." فرصة تانية
LM: “by God” IM: For emphasis وهللا
LM: “something cold” IM: “a cold drink”
(incl. soda pop) حاجة ساقعة
LM: “all the time” على طول
IM: “There will be another time to meet or do what was planned to be done but did
not.” فرصة تانية LM: “at me is cold” IM: “I have cold.” عندي برد
LM: “by God” وهللا IM: “by God, you are very thoughtful.”
(compliment) (زوق) وهللا إنت كلك ذوق
IM: “the receipt or bill” الشيك
LM: “You are the one who is thoughtful” إنت اللي كلك ذوق
entered (m.s.2) دخلت
May God be with you ربنا معاكي
May you feel better سالمتك
medicine دوا
82 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
meetings إجتماعات
meter عداد
money فلوس
my children أوالدي
my female friend صاحبتي
my loved/dear one حبيبتي
next week األسبوع الجاي
noise دوشة not free ( for a person)
not empty ( for an object) مش فاضي
OK/alright طيب
One of its meanings is "class” in a train. درجة
or وال
passed/succeeded نجح
Peace be upon you السالم عليكم
pharmacy الصيدلية
please/ go ahead/ here (female recipient) لي إتفض
please/ go ahead/ here (male recipient) ل إتفض
pomegranate juice عصير رمان
project مشروع
research بحث
responsible for مسؤول عن
return أرجع
return ticket; جي -رايح
rice رز
she played ت لعب
something (ECA) حاجة
something (LCA) إشي
83 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
square ميدان
stuffed leaves (LCA) ملفوف
sugar cane juice عصير قصب
surely أكيد
taxi التاكسي
ten o’clock الساعة عشرة
the club النادي
(the) morning الصبح
(there is) no problem (LCA) ما في مشكلة
(there is) no problem (ECA) مافيش مشكلة
the menu المنيو
the novel الرواية
then وبعدين
There is no trouble مافيش تعب وال حاجة
There is homework which I missed فيه واجب فاتني
this ديه
Thursday يوم الخميس
ticket تذكرة
tired تعبان
today هإنھارد
tomorrow بكرة
train قطر
TV التليفزيون
vegetables خضار
vitamin C سي فيتامين
we drank شربنا
would you like? ؟إنت)… ..( تحبي
Where are you from a long time? أنت فين من زمان؟
we go ( present tense) نروح
84 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
we will go حنطلع
we will read حنقرا
we will write/compose حنكتب
welcome for a female recipient (LCA) أھال و سھال فيكي
welcome for a male recipient (ECA) أھال و سھال بيك
What? ؟شو -إيه
What is the cost of…? ؟بكام
What is wrong, Nadia? إيه يا نادية؟
what is wrong? مالك؟
when? ؟إمتى
where? (ECA) ؟فين
where? (LCA) ؟وين
which? ؟أي
who? ؟مين
LM: “Whoever sees you will live!” (compliment)
عاش من شافك (إنت)
With me (regardless of the gender) معايا
with you (plural) معكم
work الشغل
Would you (f.s.2) to eat lunch?
Would you (m.s.2) to eat lunch?
تحبي تتغدي
تتغدىتحب
yesterday إمبارح
you (all) cooked وت طبخ
You are forgetting your friends! لدرجة إنك تنسى أصحابك
You (m.s.2) look as if you need sleep محتاج نوم! كشكل
your day ( f.s.2) يومك
your question (male recipient) سؤالك
your question (female recipient) سؤالك
85 | From MSA to CA: A Beginner’s guide for transitioning into Colloquial Arabic
ما+ باكل+ شI do not eat ماباكلش ما+ بشرب+ شI do not drink مابشربش
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تمت بفضل هللا
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